The Ford Barn

ian Simpson · 08-04-2016, 11:15 PM

The fuel tap on my 1928 Tudor sticks closed. If I shut it off all the way my arthritic hands cannot turn it back on without using vice grips or pliers. Any polite suggestions are welcome.

Mike V. Florida · 08-04-2016, 11:45 PM

Replace it or take it apart and using white toothpaste, lap the insides to clean them.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-05-2016, 04:25 AM

Mine was very hard to turn also. I lapped mine with toothpaste and put grease on the shaft and seal when I assembled it. That was over 20 years ago and it still turns easily now.

harleytoprock · 08-05-2016, 05:08 AM

Use this grease and it will turn as smooth as butter.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...ezturnlube.php

iverson · 08-05-2016, 08:25 AM

Ours was so tight I couldn't get it apart without putting the handle back on after taking packing nut off and turning with two wrenches and pulling at same time. The packing was so hard it wouldn't cut with a knife! I used string faucet packing I had now it turns with fingertips!

Walt Ebie · 08-05-2016, 08:54 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Since I'm not familiar with the term "LAP IT"......how do you do that?

Dollar Bill · 08-05-2016, 09:07 AM

Lap: Coat the stem with a lapping compound (toothpaste) and insert it into the valve body; move the stem back and forth to mate/machine the two surfaces of the valve.

katy · 08-05-2016, 09:51 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapping

08-04-2016, 11:15 PM	#1
ian Simpson Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 709	Sticking Fuel Tap The fuel tap on my 1928 Tudor sticks closed. If I shut it off all the way my arthritic hands cannot turn it back on without using vice grips or pliers. Any polite suggestions are welcome.

08-04-2016, 11:45 PM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Sticking Fuel Tap Replace it or take it apart and using white toothpaste, lap the insides to clean them. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-05-2016, 04:25 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Sticking Fuel Tap Mine was very hard to turn also. I lapped mine with toothpaste and put grease on the shaft and seal when I assembled it. That was over 20 years ago and it still turns easily now.

08-05-2016, 05:08 AM	#4
harleytoprock Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 438	Re: Sticking Fuel Tap Use this grease and it will turn as smooth as butter. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...ezturnlube.php

08-05-2016, 08:54 AM	#6
Walt Ebie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: East Canton, OH Posts: 168	Re: Sticking Fuel Tap Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Since I'm not familiar with the term "LAP IT"......how do you do that?

08-05-2016, 09:07 AM	#7
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: Sticking Fuel Tap Lap: Coat the stem with a lapping compound (toothpaste) and insert it into the valve body; move the stem back and forth to mate/machine the two surfaces of the valve. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise

08-05-2016, 09:51 AM	#8
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,102	Re: Sticking Fuel Tap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapping __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!